Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the transfer of $245,000.00 from the existing Hotel/Motel Tax appropriation to the Recreation and Parks Department for expenditure to support: music licensing for various annual festivals and cultural arts programming; grant awards in support of the production of free community events; and the 42nd annual Columbus Jazz & Rib Fest.
All public performances of music, whether live, recorded or broadcast, must be licensed through either ASCAP, BMI, SESAC or GMR. The City holds a municipal license which covers events at facilities owned and/or operated by the city and any site engaged by the city for use by the city. In addition to Recreation and Parks’ programs and facilities, coverage is extended to: Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Columbus Commons productions, Veterans’ Day Parade, King Arts Complex, Lincoln Theatre, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus Zoo and all other city conducted programs and facilities that play or present music. Recreation and Parks will expend $30,000 for annual licenses.
A grant process for community events and festivals has existed since 1995 to support community groups and neighbors that host free events celebrating cultural, ethnic, and artistic diversity for the entertainment and enjoyment by the greater Columbus community. Through the grant application process the department will solicit funding requests for the following categories; First Time Impact, Neighborhood Impact, Community Impact, Citywide Impact, and Regional Impact. Established City processes (C.C. 111.14 & 329) shall be followed to expend $180,000 of Hotel Motel funding on sponsorship grants to a number of local not-for-profit organizations that will be determined through a documented and open grant application and committee award process. All grants shall be in support of community events held on public property using main account 65026 - Tax Reportable Grants to Others. No individual grant agreement shall excee...
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